If you're planning an upcoming event, it's most likely that some of your guests will request an accommodation based on a dietary restriction or specialized diet they observe.
As a good host, you should do as much as you can to grant dietary requests, within reason. The three most prevalent requests at the moment are gluten-free, kosher, and vegan diets. Contact your event caterer in advance to brainstorm a menu and to ensure that all your guest’s dietary needs are met.Try and think of menu options that hit on several dietary needs.
The good news is that all of these dietary needs are relatively easy to accommodate. These recipes are so good, the guests eating the restriction-free meals will have serious FOMO (fear of missing out).
Here are some ideas of tasty dishes you can serve your guests with specific dietary needs:
Vegan
- Veggie Noodles with Curried Coconut Sauce
Break out the veggie spiralizer and make a vegan-friendly pasta dish. Top zucchini and carrot noodles with a dairy-free coconut sauce to incorporate spicy and sweet flavours—one of the hottest food trends of the year. This dish also tastes great topped with tofu. This can also work for your gluten-free guests.
- Ratatouille
A traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable, made popular in recent years by a certain (cartoon) rat, ratatouille is a classic that can be served in formal settings and will garner the praise of all the vegans at the table.
- Lentil Tabbouleh
A tasty dish that originates from the Middle East, tabbouleh is traditionally made with tomatoes, chopped parsley, mint, bulger, and onion. The simple seasoning of olive oil, lemon juice, and salt brings out the flavours and is sure to be a dish that even non-vegans love. It also works great served in a small dish as an hors d’oeuvre.
Gluten-Free
- Rice Noodle Pad Thai
Rice noodles are the go-to noodles when it comes to gluten-free dietary needs. Go the extra mile and top this dish with preserved radish or tamarind. Traditionally, Pad Thai doesn’t include chicken, but we won’t tell if you opt to add a protein.
- Chocolate Buckwheat Cookies
Dessert might be the area that those who are gluten-free struggle with most, since so many delectable pastries are made with flour. These cookies use buckwheat flour—a tannic, earthy, and nutty flavour that pairs well with chocolate.
- Grilled Cobb Salad
The safest way to make a meal gluten-free is to skip any preservatives and offer a meal heavy on fresh veggies and meat or fish. A Cobb salad is a great option that will ensure your guests with dietary needs go home full—and satisfied.
Kosher
- Shakshuka with Sausage
Although traditionally a breakfast food, there’s no reason why you can’t spice shakshuka up with some sausage and serve it for dinner. Shakshuka consists of a red pepper sauce spiced with cumin, paprika, and cayenne, and is topped with eggs and cilantro.
- Beet Hummus Pizza with Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, and Arugula
This creative dish is delicious—and totally kosher. Forget regular chickpea hummus and hello beet hummus! Just make sure if you’re using pre-packaged beets that they’re kosher-certified. Top your pizza with goat cheese, mozzarella, and arugula for a great hors d’oeuvre.
- Kale Salad with a Tahini Dressing
This salad wows because of its tasty tahini dressing. Mix tahini with honey and red wine vinegar and voila—an amazing kosher salad dressing. Carrots and cranberries taste great with kale, as does feta. If you want to upgrade this salad to a main course, just add chicken or tofu.
